One of the greatest strengths of the Internet is that it represents a democracy of information; a gathering place where ideas and knowledge are exchanged freely and a wealth of knowledge is always only a Google search away.

If you happen to be an individual with a visual, hearing or mobility impairment or learning disability such as dyslexia, however, you may encounter difficulties and frustration gaining access to online information that many users take for granted.

While laws exist to ensure access to public space for people with disabilities, the one pubic place in which this isn’t yet enforced is the Internet. The most likely reason is because cyberspace is not a physically tangible place and of the few laws governing it, many are still ambiguous and murky.

This could soon change. Several years ago, California state law began mandating that websites be accessible for people with disabilities, and other states could follow this precedent. There are even a few examples of lawsuits filed against companies whose websites are not considered “fully functional” to the disabled. One need not look further than the 2006 lawsuit brought against Target by a sight-impaired website user to grasp the potential implications.

Technology offers a solution (albeit limited) to many of these issues: text and voice recognition software, talking browsers and Braille displays increase website access for many people with impairments. But it’s also up to website developers to incorporate user-accessible practices into online design. There are some simple steps web designers and developers can take to make sure their sites can be used by the largest majority possible. A few key basics include providing alternative text with all images and validating HTML code to prevent errors that could potentially confuse text recognition software. For deaf visitors, web content providers might consider offering alternative versions of videos with captions.

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2 Responses to “Disability and Accessibility in Cyberspace”

While laws exist to ensure access to public space for people with disabilities, the one pubic place in which this isn’t yet enforced is the Internet. The most likely reason is because cyberspace is not a physically tangible place and of the few laws governing it, many are still ambiguous and murky.
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